4 key matchups to watch in Seahawks vs. Rams
Cameron DaSilva
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theramswire.usatoday.com]
The Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks will meet for the second time this season on Sunday with Pete Carroll’s squad looking to avoid the sweep. The Rams have their sights set on a 9-1 record and are favored by 10 points, so this is a game they certainly expect to win.
Here are four important matchups to watch in Week 10.
Marcus Peters vs. anyone
The Seahawks have a trio of very capable receivers in Doug Baldwin, Tyler Lockett and David Moore. In Week 5, Moore beat Peters for two touchdowns in a game where the corner allowed a season-high three scores, but that was before the Rams used him to travel with No. 1 receivers. After “traveling” the past two weeks, it remains to be seen if he’ll shadow Baldwin.
Regardless, Peters has to show he can cover whichever receiver lines up across from him. If he continues to get beat repeatedly as he was the past two weeks, the Rams are going to be in serious trouble. This is the perfect chance for him to improve and get back on track, being at home against a team with no truly dominant receiver like Michael Thomas.
It’s one thing if he allows catches and limits the yardage, but it’s another to surrender big play after big play.
Rams LBs vs. Chris Carson and Mike Davis
In their first meeting, the Rams allowed their most rushing yards in a game since Week 2 of 2017. The Seahawks gashed them for 190 yards in a narrow 33-31 loss, running the ball down the Rams’ throat with the duo of Carson and Davis. Expect to see much of the same on Sunday as Seattle will lean on its running game, which is why it ranks first in attempts and third in yards.
The Rams have to be better against the run this time around if they want to win more comfortably than they did five weeks ago. As good as their offense is, the Seahawks have a chance to keep it at bay by running the ball consistently and keeping Jared Goff off the field.
Brandin Cooks vs. Tre Flowers
Flowers primarily plays the same side of the field as Cooks, but he’s hardly been a lockdown corner for the Seahawks. He’s PFF’s No. 67 cornerback this season and allowed two touchdowns to Mike Williams last week at home. Cooks isn’t a scoring machine by any means, but he’s a precise route runner with the ability to get open thanks to his footwork. This is a favorable matchup for Cooks, one he and Goff should take advantage of.
In Week 5, Cooks was forced to exit early with a concussion after a brutal hit by Tedric Thompson, so he didn’t exactly contribute last time these two teams met. His presence as a deep threat alone will help the Rams offense. With Shaq Griffin on Robert Woods and Justin Coleman on Cooper Kupp, this is a game where each receiver has the advantage over the opposing cornerback.
Aaron Donald vs. Seahawks interior OL
Donald has been absolutely dominant against the Seahawks in his career. He’s sacked Russell Wilson eight times, which is more than any other quarterback he’s faced. The Seahawks did a good job keeping Donald somewhat in check last time around, limiting him to just one sack, one quarterback hit and a tackle for loss. “Just.”
Ethan Pocic will see the most of Donald on Sunday at left guard, but the Rams move him all over the line. Justin Britt will provide some help at center, while D.J. Fluker will also be tasked with blocking the Defensive Player of the Year at some points. If Donald can continuously win up front, the Rams will be in good shape. After all, since 2017, they’re 14-0 when he has at least one sack.
